The final countdown to Wales Rally GB is underway, before action begins in the last round of the World Rally Championship which starts this Friday (December 1) – and tyre giant Hankook is aiming to play a starring role in the event.

Its regular SJR Hankook drivers Gwyndaf Evans and Stuart Jones will be looking for Group N honours in the rally, which is also the final round of the British Rally Championship and of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

Also running on Hankook tyres will be former British Rally Champion David Higgins who arrives back in the UK this week after an impressive performance in the China Rally at the weekend, the final round of the China Rally Championship.

In Group N, Hertfordshire driver Robert Swann will also be running on Hankook tyres in his Subaru, while bidding for N3 honours will be Matt Beebe in his MG ZR160. Both have been competing on Hankook tyres this year in the British Rally Championship.

“Wales Rally GB is gearing up to be an exciting event for Hankook as we look to show what our tyres can do on the world stage,’’ said Hankook motorsports manager Mike Patterson.

“The tyres have performed brilliantly at all levels of rallying in the UK this year and in China at the weekend with David Higgins so we are looking forward to reinforcing this performance in Wales this weekend.’’

For Gywndaf and Stuart ,Wales Rally GB marks the end of a phenomenal BRC debut for the SJR Hankook team.

From the very first event of the season in Kielder the crews were on top form, setting fastest times and illustrating the quality of the Hankook Tyres.